Stepladder



Oct. 27, 1.931. J. G. FROMMEYER 1,829,346

DDDDDDDD ER Oct. 27, 1931. J. G. FROMMEYER STEPLADDER Filed June 13,192B 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w m w n .10

Patented Oct. 27, 1931 masas PATENT' OFFICE JAMES G. FROMMEYER,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO Y STEPLADDER Application led June 13,

`This invention relates toimprovements in stepladders, and isparticularly directed to a stepladder of thetype incorporating a workplatform. It is an object of this invention to provide a stepladder ofthis type incorporating 'a work platform of relatively large'area 1nwhich side rails are provided at Vthe extreme upper end of the ladder atan elevation conT siderably above the platform, these rails functioningas guard rails and enabling the workman to brace himself thereagainstwhen standing on the platform.

'Another object is to provide a pivoted arrangement of the side railsand ladder upright frames as well as an improved mounting of theplatform permitting the collapsing or folding ofthe platform into anextremely fiat and compact form.

Another object is to provide a folding vstepladder construction which isstaunch and rigid when set up in use, and in which the platform inset-up position functions to brace y'and steady the stepladder.V

Still another object is to provide apositive and strong device forsustaining the loaded platform.

Other objects relate to the metal an-d wood fabrication of thestepladder which with further advantages will be apparent from thedescription of the accompanying drawings, in

which .folded position, showing a pivot reinforcing velement in sectionand further illustrating Athe forming of the side rails to permitcomplete folding of the stepladder.

YFigure 5 is a fragmentary view of the eX- treme upper end ofthestepladder, showing the V'stepladder in set-up position and details1928. Serial N0. 285,184.

ing the double frames thereof.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the U-shaped clips forreinforcing the pivotal connection of the top side rails to the frontframe.

Referring to the drawings, a pair of upright stepladder frames, namelyfront and rear, are indicated respectively at l and 2, these framesbeing pivotally joined at the upper ends thereof. Theforward of theframes may be referred to as a step frame, being composed or fabricatedof a pair of side pieces 3 3 joined by steps 4. The rear upright 2 isfabricated of a pair ofsifle frames 5 5 joined by a pair' of diagonallydisposed braces 6 6 and a lower cross piece 7 the upper ends of the sideframes of the rear upright being joined by means of a metal cross piece8.

A work platform 9 is pivotally mounted between the frames adjacent thetop step thereof. A hinged attachment for the forward end of theplatform is provided by means of a pair of pivot brackets 10 secured tothe sides of the upright, each having plat form attaching portionsextending rearwardly and connected to the respective extending forwardside flange of the angle iron platform side pieces 11 by means of pinsor rivets 12.

The rear end of the platform is slidably mounted in the rear frame. Apair of guide rails 13 formed of sheet plateV are secured along therespective outer sides of the .rear frame and have slots 14 formedlongitudinally therein, these slots, by this arrangement, being disposedlongitudinally of the rear frame. The slotted portions of the guiderails extend forward from the side pieces 5 or points of attachment, theslotted portions being therefore sufficiently clear thereof for apurpose hereinafter described.

The slidable connection of the platform to t-h e rear frame is by meansof a rod 15 traversing the extending ends of the side flanges 16 of theplatform angle iron cross pieces and slidably traversing the slots 14.This pivot rod is a long tie bolt having nuts 17 on the ends thereof formaintaining the same pivotal connection of the and portions of eachturned inwardly below the base end of the slot thus providing anges i 18disposed in the path of downward swingH of` the platform rear end andthese flanges, as shown in'Figure 2, are adapted to servey'asfrests.forffthe platform, being engaged by the kangle ironl sidepieces lll thereof. 'This engagement oftheplatform with the fiangeslSoccurs at just the time that the slidef rod llfenga'ges the lowerendof the slots li. As

a further support for the platform in its set.-

-up position, a strip of metal 19 is securedto the underside 'thereofyat .a central point and extends rearwardly" having; a down-turned'flange 20 providingasort of hook which en"- iga'ges overa cross rod 2ldrawn between the side pieces of the rear frame.' r M v Y oined to-Vgether at the upperends thereof through a Ldouble pivotal connection fora purpose here- -inafter described;

The front, and rear frames are j iA pair of side'v rails 22, one ateach'side of the step'ladder, join they respective adjacent side'piec'esof the'front and back frame each being pivotally connected tothe rearframe Vby means of bolts 23 and' to thefront frame Hbymeans of bolts24.- The previouslymenvtioned cross strap 8-has downturned flanges 25traversed by the carriage bolts 23, joining the side pieces of the rearframe. 'The 'piv- ;otal connection of the side rails to the front frameis reinforced by means of U-shaped A `clips or brackets 26, one at eachpivot point,

:rear portion'of the bight of the U-shaped elements is cut away as at 30tothenecessary l depth to provide' a clearance for ,the collapsone ofthese brackets being detailed in Figure 6'. The brackets straddle thetop ends of the side pieces 3 as well as the pivoted forward ends ofthe'side` railsand `are rigidly secured to the rail by means of rivets27. The bolts 24 traverse the clips er brackets and-are drawn betweenthe flanges thereof.

v As detailed in Figure 5 the forward ends oftheside rails`22 arenotched out asat 28 to permit pivotal. movement of the rails and I frontframe relative to each other when the -ladderiscollapsech As shown inthis-view the Vouter upper corner 29 ofthe side rails `engagestheunderside ofthe bight of the U-shaped elementsp-roviding a positiveabut-` ment or stop, when the ladder is set up, making an extremelyrigidV construction.v The ing pivotal movementof these elements.

Bythis arrangement 'of parts it is pro- `rails or,Y cross. piece.

. of the platform.

vided that vthe workmanpmay stand upon the horizontally disposedplatform and use the side rails v22 and cross piece 'or rail 8 forbracing himself. y The distance from the platform to the rails orextreme top or guardv Y rail of the stepladderis such that the workmanis able to steadyhimself by engaging his `knees against these vaforeinentionedr side The three point support yfor the horizon- .tally disposedset-upvplatform,namely, the

engagement of the slide rods at the base of the slots, the engagement ofthe platform vside angle ,iron elements. with the Vflanges A formed'onthe' guidefrailsyand the engagement ofthe center strapfwiththe cross rodY provides a positive `support",forfthe,person using Ythe ladderand' atthe same time insuresthat the ladder will not fold up orfcollapseundersthe weight inasmuch as fthis vis Vimj possible unless the platformis forcedupwardly on its hinge from underneath, whereupon the frontframe and side rails will move relatively on their pivots andthe wholestruc.-

ture will fold up into theforml shown in Figure 4. Y. j Y Havingdescribed my invention,I claim: l. A device ofthe class described,comprising, -a step frame, a support frame, a'pair offllnkspivoted toand spacingthe upper ,Y

ends of said frames, said links disposedgone at each sideof the joinedstructure-,"a. platform hinged to one'framefadjfacent-.the top thereof,and means forslidably.mounting `the swinging end of said Vplatform inthe 1 .00

other frame for Vlimited downward movement A. deviceof the classdescribed, comprismg, a front frame formed of side pieces joined bysteps, a rear frame formed of side {.05

pieces joined by braces, a ypairof side rails connected at theirendsto'the respective front and rear frames, a cross strap'joining theupper ends ofthe rear upright yside pieces, a platform hinged to thefront frame and slidi .able at itsfrear end in said rear frame, abutmentmeans for limiting the downward Vmovement of said platform at horizontalplane,fand a connectionbetween the platform and the rear frame forpreventing spreading:

of the frames when the platform :isv in horizontal plane.

3. Ak folding stepladder,comprising, Va pair of upright frames,"linkspivotally 'connected at their ends to theupper'ends of the 4 respectiveframes, said links being disposed one at each side ofsaid connectedframes,a

*cross rail oining the upper ends of thestiles of the rear frame, and aplatform hinged to one of said frames, and means for slidably mountingthe opposite endof said platform in the other frame:v l, Y Y. Y

4. Astepladder construction, comprising,

a pair of upright frames,means ypivotally connectingY the upper ends offrames, `a

platform hinged to one of said frames, a pair of slotted metal guidessecured to the respective sides of the other frame, inwardly turned lugsformed integral with the lower 5 ends of said guides, and a slide rodsecured in the rear end of said platform and traversing the slots ofsaid guides, said slots terminating relative to said lugs so as toprovide, in combination with the lugs, a rest m for the platform rearend at horizontal plane. 5. A stepladder construction, comprising, apair of upright frames, means pivotal y connecting said frames at theupper ends thereof, a platform hinged to one of said 1.-, frames, a pairof slotted guides secured to the respective sides of the other frame, arod mounted in the outer end of said hinged platformA and slidablymounted in said guide rails, downward movement of the platform E() rearend being limited by engagement of the rod with the lower ends of theslots, a draw rod extending between the sides of the rear frame adjacentthe ends of the slots, and an extension formed rearwardly and centrallyof said platform engaging said rod and, in combination with the slotends, supporting the platform in horizontal plane. In witness whereof, Ihereunto subscribe myname. :zo JAMES G. FROMNIEYER.

